Communications Law Institute Alumni Return to Share Career Advice

Honoring a long tradition of alumni support for current students, four recent graduates of Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies returned to the law school on March 19 to share their insights on how to launch a successful career in this dynamic area of legal practice.

The hour-long program was held in conjunction with the Federal Communications Bar Association’s (FCBA) Young Lawyers Committee, which annually sponsors information sessions at local law schools on pathways to careers in communications law and policy.

The speakers were four alumni of CUA Law’s Institute for Communications Law Studies (CLI). Each related how the skills and the network they acquired from participation in the institute and the FCBA Law Student Division enabled them to secure highly sought-after legal externships in government, private practice, and industry organizations, which in turn led them to the careers they are pursuing today.

“This is one of the most energizing messages a current communications law student can hear, that there are terrific jobs and opportunities available in the field, and proven strategies to land them,” said Professor Donna Coleman Gregg, Director of the Institute for Communications Law Studies.

Sharing their stories and career insights were:

Ian Forbes, 2012, who was selected from a highly-competitive field of applicants for one of the few legal position openings in the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau.

Alex Reynolds, 2012, is senior manager and regulatory counsel at the Consumer Electronics Association, where he had an externship during law school.

Kara Azocar, 2011, who began her legal career at wireless industry association PCIA, is now an associate in the communications practice at Covington and Burling.

Rachael Bender, 2010, is policy director for Mobile Future, a national coalition of cutting-edge technology and communications companies and non-profit organizations.

Jeremy Berkowitz, a 2010 CLI graduate, represented the FCBA Young Lawyers Committee at the event. He is a senior consultant in analytics capability at Booz Allen Hamilton, where his current responsibilities include analyzing broadband law and policy for the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency Communications.

The panel and Q&A session with current and prospective CLI students was moderated by 2L Conor MacCaffrey, who serves as secretary of the Communications Law Students Association. Brian Indovina, a third-year evening student who is also enrolled in the Institute for Communications Law Studies, assisted FCBA in organizing the event.